Bidgely: Hottest Company of the Month

Congratulations on being awarded Plug and Play’s hottest company for July 2013. So, what does Bidgely do? We empower consumers to lower their energy bills through appliance-level insights and real-time feedback about their energy consumption. Where does the name come from? Bidgely means “electricity” in Hindi, the most popular language in India What’s the story […]

Congratulations on being awarded Plug and Play’s hottest company for July 2013.

So, what does Bidgely do?

We empower consumers to lower their energy bills through appliance-level insights and real-time feedback about their energy consumption.

Where does the name come from?

Bidgely means “electricity” in Hindi, the most popular language in India

What’s the story behind how Bidgely got started?

Bidgely was founded in 2011 by Abhay Gupta and Vived Garud. The origins of the company lie in the advent of smart meters. Vast amounts of data are being generated by the smart meters; still consumers are not getting any direct benefit form it. Abhay and Vivek took up the challenge to make this data relevant to consumers and help them keep tabs on their energy spend.

What is your “secret sauce” – that unique combination of product features and competitive advantage that differentiates you?

We are the first-of-its-kind energy app that analyzes utility data to give consumers a breakdown of how much energy different appliances in their homes are consuming and how much this is costing them. No company is yet to provide this service without installing sensors on each appliance that is being read within people’s homes. With the proliferation of smart meters across the US, we are seizing a massive opportunity to take the increasingly available energy usage data and help consumers better understand their energy consumption.

And your business model?

We envision selling and distributing our product through multiple channels: direct-to-consumer, utility partnerships and other corporate partnerships with companies that have a vested interest in home energy management, such as solar or telecoms.

Let’s talk about your industry. Why should people care about saving energy?

Saving energy means reducing your electricity bill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a win-win: good for your pocketbook and good for the world.

What 3 appliances consume the most energy in an average household?

Across Bidgely users, the three greatest consumers of household energy are: pool pump, air conditioner and water heater

What are a few easy things that somebody can do to cut down on their energy consumption?

We have a whole recommendations engine that will give you personalized energy savings tips based on your individual household consumption, but in general some of the “low-hanging fruit,” as is often referred to in the energy industry, include: replacing your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents, doing your laundry with cold water, and increasing your AC/decreasing your heating temperature by one or two degrees.

Do you have a favorite form of renewable energy?

We believe in saving energy first before generating it.

Product visions tend to evolve as a team becomes more immersed in the industry. How has Bidgely evolved since you started?

We transitioned from a technology-focused to a consumer-oriented company somewhere along the journey.

Tell us about your team. What makes them special?

A team of 12: engineering heavy with combination of software architects, data scientists, visual designers, product and sales. Passion: We all are very passionate about technology and creating a better world by reducing carbon emissions. Humility: We learn very day at our jobs.

If Bidgely were a person, what kind of person would they be?

A smart and humble person with a strong sense of humor.

What are the three biggest milestones Bidgely has achieved?

Since coming out of stealth mode late last year, we have achieved many major milestones: funding from major investors, acquiring top talent, and achieving strategic partnerships

What future milestones are you most excited about?

Growth! We want to see Bidgely in every home across the globe, to realize our dream of empowering people to lower their energy bills and to save energy on a massive level.

Do you have any advice for young entrepreneurs looking to change the world?

(i) People: find passionate people with whom you enjoy working. (ii) Perseverance It’s a marathon, not a sprint; enjoy the ride.

Closing thoughts?

We are looking for people who are excited about our product to experience it and tell us what you think. Customer insights about the Bidgely experience are key to helping us improve and scale our product. The best part…sign up today and qualify to win cool prizes like a Jawbone Jambox, a Philips LED TV, or a Biolite camp stove.